President Obama talked about the economy, praised DreamWorks and got
the inside scoop on two of the studio’s upcoming movies, during his
visit to the Glendale campus.
“I’m going to ask Jeff if maybe I can work here,” Obama
said to the crowd outside the studio. It’s a great place to work, but
all of you have friends and family who aren’t as lucky. A lot of people
are still struggling out there. Entertainment is one of the bright spots
of our economy. The difference between what we can do and other
countries is enormous. This is one of America’s economic engines. Not
just DreamWorks, but Disney, Warner, Universal and others.”
Earlier today, the president observed a mo-cap scene for the June 2014 feature
How to Raise Your Dragon 2,
in the company of director Dean DeBlois and producer Bonnie Arnold.
“That was wonderful,” the POTUS said. “Coming to a theater near you!”
He was accompanied on his VIP trip by topper Jeffrey Katzenberg, one
of the president’s top supporters. He then sat in a recording of the
studio’s holiday 2014 feature
Home, with two of the sci fi fantasy’s stars, Steve Martin and Jim Parsons.
“How’s the banjo playing?” Obama asked Martin, who had
performed at the White House before. The popular actor told the
president that it had “the biggest thrill of his life.” Without missing a
beat, Obama responded, “That’s how I felt about it…I told Michelle:
‘Biggest thrill of my life. Inauguration, nothing, Steve playing banjo,
that was big.’”
Home director Tim Johnson described the movie to Obama as “an alien invasion film told entirely from the alien’s point of view.”
“Well where did we go?” Obama asked. Johnson explained,
“Humans are put on a preserve in the movie.” Obama asked, “Do they feed
us?” The helmer responded, “Mostly ice cream,” and Obama offered an
approving look, per the Los Angeles Times.
The president was then treated to a clip of the one of the film’s
aliens, mouthing an audio clip of Obama speaking at an official event.
“Happy Thanksgiving, everybody, welcome to the White
House,” the alien said in Obama’s voice, which made the president laugh.
“Now that’s good, I’ve got to get that clip…That will impress the
girls. That’s wonderful.”
Tim Johnson then offered to animate Obama’s next State of the Union
address, before the president observed the actors recording some lines
in a studio booth.
Outside the studio’s Glendale campus, vfx professionals held a
peaceful rally, wearing green (for the color of green-screen) and held
signs to protest tax incentives that took visual effects work away from
California and to offshore studios.
This has been quite a historic event as it marks the first time a sitting president of the U.S. has visited an animation studio.
